The Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees approved the consolidation plan in 2023, citing declining enrollment and long-term financial challenges. The district has lost about 5,500 students since the 2014-15 school year and, according to district staff, expects to lose another 3,900 by 2026-27. District officials have also said average daily attendance — which determines how much funding schools receive — has dropped, while costs tied to pensions, special education and other staffing issues continue to grow.

Orangeview most recently enrolled about 650 students, while Western High had 1,660, according to the latest figures from the California Department of Education.

Anaheim Union isn’t the only district making changes. As enrollment continues to drop across Orange County, other districts are also closing or considering the consolidation of schools. Last year, the Ocean View School District shut down Spring View Middle School and move its students to other campuses, and Orange Unified has also started exploring possible consolidations in response to declining enrollment.

“K-12 enrollment in Orange County has declined steadily over the past decade, with the most recent three-year drop totaling more than 22,000 students in traditional public schools — a trend largely driven by the high cost of living and declining birth rates,” Orange County Department of Education spokesman Ian Hanigan said in a statement.

District staff and educators in Anaheim Union said the school will adopt a more personalized, community-centered education model.

“We are at the forefront of rethinking what schools should be, and can be,” Bindi Crawford, co-principal of the new Orangeview-Western school, said during an update to the Board of Trustees meeting this week ahead of the start of school on Aug. 6.

District staff said the redesign introduces new academic structures aimed at boosting both learning outcomes and student well-being. That includes an eight-period block schedule on Mondays, three days of an advisory period each week, and twice-weekly late starts on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“On Mondays there will be a single block anchor day in which students will be able to go to all of their eight classes and check in with their teachers. On the other days, they will have a four-block period,” said Sean Fleshman, a longtime history teacher at Orangeview.

“The team felt very strong that it would be important to start off the week where each teacher saw each of their students at least once,” Crawford added. “These are shorter periods, but each student will go through every single one of their periods, including advisory, to kick off the week. Each period will be approximately 35 to 40 minutes.”

The idea behind advisory, according to Yamila Castro, a Spanish teacher at Western, is to build smaller learning communities and ensure each student has consistent contact with a trusted group of teachers. At the new school, students will meet in small, consistent advisory groups multiple times a week to build relationships and receive academic and emotional support.

“It ensures every student is known by name, assets and needs,” Castro said.

Another key component of the new school program, modeled after Hillsdale High in San Mateo, is what teachers call “Kid Talk.”

“When we visited Hillsdale, one of the practices that we learned at Hillsdale is this opportunity for students, support staff, administrators, counselors to do a preliminary intervention discussion about student needs and strengths,” Castro said. “So teachers come together twice a month and discuss students that they have questions about, that they would like to learn more about, maybe they’re having an attendance issue.”

“So this is a discussion with all of the teachers and support staff before it gets to the next level of intervention,” she said. “This way, every teacher has the opportunity to discuss students in a structured way.”

On Tuesdays, staff will use the late start time for Kid Talk and advisory planning, Castro said. Thursdays will be used for staff meetings, department check-ins or committee work.

Students will also be able to start career technical education (CTE) classes as early as eighth grade.

District officials said they expect the new model to yield stronger academic, behavioral and emotional outcomes.

“We’re going to likely be doing this with other schools as we move forward,” Superintendent Michael Matsuda said. “We learn together.”

Crawford said the team is focused now on getting to opening day, but also the work won’t stop there.

“This is just Year 1. And what we told our community is that Year 1 should not look like Year 2. This is a cycle of continuous progress and improvement,” she said.

Board President Brian O’Neal agreed.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens when the school opens and then how it is at the end of this first year,” he said.

The district is also planning another major campus move. Hope School is expected to close later this year and reopen on the former Orangeview campus in the 2026-27 school year, once that site is vacated.

“We have a committee working on thinking through the process of what will happen to that property,” Trustee Katherine Smith said.

Iger said the Disneyland resort has reached “almost 30 million” in annual attendance while talking about what Walt Disney would think of Disneyland today during a speech at the front gates of the park.

“More than anything else, he’d be awestruck by the fact that almost 30 million guests flow through the gates of his beloved Disneyland each year,” Iger said during the 70th anniversary celebration speech on Thursday, July 17.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland celebrates 70th anniversary with parades, fireworks and marching bands

The 30 million figure mentioned by Iger represents an approximation of overall annual attendance at the Disneyland Resort, according to Disneyland officials.

The “almost 30 million” figure should not be used to gauge any increase in attendance at the Disneyland Resort since 2023 as the number is an approximation, according to Disneyland officials.

The combined attendance of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure was 27.25 million in 2023, according to TEA/AECOM. A new mark of 30 million would represent a 10% increase in attendance over the past two years.

Disneyland attendance in 2023 stood at 17.25 million in 2023 with Disney California Adventure attendance at 10 million, according to TEA/AECOM.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland’s biggest decade ever is about to end — and the next could be even bigger

An increase of nearly 2.75 million visitors per year at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure would push the California theme park resort past the 28.5 million visitor mark registered in 2019 and back above pre-pandemic attendance levels for the first time.

Tracking attendance numbers used to be a Disneyland tradition — with the park proudly issuing annual tallies. Disneyland no longer publicly announces attendance figures.

TEA/AECOM has published annual theme park attendance figures since 2006, with the latest numbers available through 2023. The 2024 TEA Global Attractions Attendance Report is expected to be released in September.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland had a nightmare start in 1955, but ‘Walt’s Folly’ quickly won over fans

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has never recorded a higher annual attendance count at Disneyland than the Magic Kingdom over the past two decades.

The latest attendance increase could make perennial runner-up Disneyland the most visited theme park in the world.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida was the most visited park in 2023 with 17.72 million visitors, according to TEA/AECOM. The difference between first place (Magic Kingdom) and second place (Disneyland) in 2023 was fewer than 500 visitors — the closest gap in recent history.

ALSO SEE: Walt Disney and Abe Lincoln animatronics to share rotating Disneyland stage

Hurricanes Helene and Milton put a damper on Walt Disney World attendance in 2024, according to Disney quarterly financial reports released in February.

The Magic Kingdom still remains 3 million visitors behind the all-time high annual mark of 20.96 million in 2019, according to TEA/AECOM.

The date marks the 70th anniversary of Walt Disney opening the Happiest Place on Earth.

The first people to visit the park on Sunday, July 17, 1955, were invited guests during an “International Press Preview” event that included studio employees, construction workers, the media and company sponsors.

The park actually opened to the public the next day: July 18, 1955.

For Thursday’s anniversary, the crowd that gathered at the main gate was greeted with a train full of Disney characters that pulled into the Main Street Station just before the park opened.

Visitors were handed a commemorative pin and special edition guide map as they entered and were welcomed by cheering employees lining Main Street, U.S.A.

The afternoon had a modified parade, “The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade — Disneyland’s Birthday Celebration Edition.”

But most of the park was business as usual, with park visitors enjoying what Walt built.

The chain was founded by Anaheim resident Carl Karcher, who opened a hot dog stand on the corner of Florence and Central avenues in Los Angeles on July 17, 1941.

The chain was headquartered in Anaheim for many years but parent company CKE Restaurants moved it to Tennessee in 2017.

No longer into hot dogs, Carl’s Jr. is known for its Famous Star burger and eyeball-grabbing ad campaigns featuring stars like Paris Hilton. A burger called Queso Crunch is being promoted by influencer Alix Earle. It’s made with tortilla strips, cheese sauce and pico de gallo.

Summer beverages include Strawberry Lemonade and Blue Sourberry.

Information: carlsjr.com

You can sign up to receive alerts about emergency situations, evacuations, road closures, power outages and police activity.

Visit anaheimalert.net, search for Anaheim Alert, and register today.

Drizzle art around Anaheim on display

Robert Holton, an Anaheim resident and businessman, has been invited for a solo art exhibit by the city.

The “Anaheim, Sign of the Times, Then and Now” exhibition of Holton’s drizzle art opened earlier this month and will be on display until Aug. 12 at the Downtown Community Center, 250 E Center St.

It is a great show that features pieces with lots of memories of Anaheim spots over the years.

Collecting Disneyland memories for a legacy box

The Ebell Club is planning a 2025 Legacy Box and has been collecting input on what to include in the time capsule.

The 2025 Legacy Box will be set to be opened in 2050.

Anaheim residents of all ages and backgrounds have been invited to share. Poetry, photos, and drawings can all be included.

Ebell Club members also want to include people’s stories for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary and guests are invited to share their memories and thoughts of Disneyland.

The Disneyland program is scheduled for 10 to 11:30 a.m. on July 24 at the Ebell Club, 228 N. Helena St. For more information, contact Hilary at 714-394-1459.

These boots are made for painting

Anaheim artist Jack Knight is working on a project with the Pacific Symphony that involves painting old boots.

In August, he will be hosting a painting project that requires old paintable boots.  If you have old boots to donate, contact Jack at 919-701-7621.

Get involved with historic preservation in Anaheim

The Historic Preservation Committee meets throughout the year and offers residents an opportunity to learn more about what is being done in Anaheim for historic preservation.

Did you know that the Anaheim Historic Preservation Committee now has Facebook and Instagram pages. Liz Morton has made it happen.

You can also get more information by contacting Meghan Shigo at 714-273-1381.

Anaheim libraries busy this summer

The Anaheim Public Library branches have lots of activities planned this summer for all ages.

Here are just a few:

• Sunkist Branch is hosting the third annual STEAM fair from noon to 4 p.m. on July 26

• Haskett Branch is hosting Wonder Wednesdays with a Glow in the Dark Dance Party from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on July 24

• Euclid Branch is hosting Christmas in July from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on July 22

Call the library at 714-765-1880 for locations of the branches or visit the website at Anaheim.net/Library.

Summer nights at Pearson Park

The Anaheim Summer Series is presenting Pearson Park Summer Nights Under the Stars.

The Disneyland Resort is again sponsoring the summer entertainment series.  These are family and cultural shows in the park’s amphitheater.

The series will feature magicians, cultural performances and dance performances, including the Anaheim Ballet. Tickets are $5 and some shows are free.

There are also free concerts on Aug. 2, 9, 16 and 23. Tickets are available online at Anaheim.net/pearsontheatre.

Andrea Manes shares with her neighbors events and news about the Anaheim community. If you have an event to share, contact her at andreadeemanes@gmail.com or 714-815-3885.

Disneyland marked the anniversary date of the park’s 1955 opening with marching bands, parades and fireworks on Thursday, July 17 as part of a yearlong party set to run through summer 2026.

ALSO SEE: 10 best things to eat at Disneyland’s 70th anniversary bash

The 70th anniversary celebration of the original Disney theme park kicked off in May with the “Wondrous Journeys” fireworks show and Paint the Night parade at Disneyland and “World of Color Happiness” water show and the Better Together parade at Disney California Adventure.

Disneyland introduced three more additions on Thursday: “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” animatronic show in the Main Street Opera House, new lyrics on It’s a Small World boat ride in Fantasyland and a “Last Verse” documentary short in the Main Street Cinema.

The “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” show starring a robotic doppelganger of Disneyland’s founder used a virtual queue on Thursday with spots in line distributed at 7 a.m. before the park opened and again at noon.

The first virtual queue at 7 a.m. for “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” filled in less than a minute, according to MousePlanet.

The 3 1/2-minute “So Much That We Share: A Tribute to the Sherman Brothers” film pays homage to the Disney songwriting team and details how the new “Last Verse” lyrics were written for the catchy and infectious song and incorporated into the finale scene of the beloved attraction.

Disney CEO Bob Iger, Disney Parks boss Josh D’Amaro and Disneyland Resort President Thomas Mazloum presided over the raising of the American flag on Disneyland’s Town Square around 6 a.m. Thursday as thousands of Disneyland employees stood in silence. Iger and D’Amaro rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange remotely from Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland’s biggest decade ever is about to end — and the next could be even bigger

Iger and D’Amaro spoke at 7:20 a.m. Thursday from in front of the floral Mickey inside the Disneyland front gate. Iger echoed Walt Disney’s 1955 opening day remarks and D’Amaro commented on the 70th anniversary celebration as a trainload of Disney characters rolled into the Disneyland Railroad station.

Lines to get into Disneyland on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. stretched past the Monorail beam with queues at the Disney California Adventure gate six people deep.

Visitors entering Disneyland in the morning received a free July 17 collectible button and a poster-sized commemorative map based on a 1954 rendering of Disneyland by Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw.

Lines for merchandise for some shops were longer than the wait for the Disneyland Monorail (5 minutes), Casey Jr. Circus Train (5 minutes), Mad Tea Party (5 minutes), Mark Twain Riverboat (10 minutes) and Pinocchio’s Daring Journey (10 minutes). Fifty people waited in a line that stretched across the Frontierland bridge to the hub for 70th anniversary pins at the Western Ho Trading Co.

The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it new verse on It’s a Small World played twice in the finale room of the leisurely boat ride.

Nearly 100 Disneyland visitors waited in line at 9 a.m. outside World of Disney in Downtown Disney for the release of three exclusive 70th anniversary collectible pins costing $25 to $40.

Queues formed outside Main Street U.S.A. shops for the opportunity to purchase exclusive 70th anniversary merchandise.

There was a 30-minute queue with a snaking back and forth line for Tropical Hideaway. The top 70th anniversary items included a Peach Dole Whip and a sundae that weren’t available via mobile order.

Visitors called for the virtual queue waited in line in a backstage passageway for their chance to see “Walt Disney — A Magical Life.”

Even Minnie Mouse had to wait as the long line of visitors loaded into the Main Street Opera House.

Visitors not yet called for the virtual queue milled in front of the Mad Hatter gift shop for their turn to be called.

Disneyland visitors gathered under a shady tree in front of Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe at 11:59 a.m. with Disneyland app open poised to nab a spot in the noon virtual queue distribution. Most came away happy with return groups later in the day. Group numbers reached near 400 for later in the day with the attraction calling 166 at noon.

The Main Street Cinema was busier than it’s been in years. About 50 people filled the cinema as the new film played on all six screens.Signs in the foyer paid tribute ton the Sherman Brothers song contributions in TV, film and theme parks.

The wait times at Disneyland at 11:20 a.m.: It’s a Small World (75 minutes), Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (65 minutes) and Space Mountain (50 minutes). Rise of the Resistance was temporarily closed at the time.

The Celebrate Happy cavalcade added a singalong by the thousands lining the parade route wishing the park Happy Birthday led by the Disneyland marching band.

Before the park opened on Thursday, Disneyland cast members posed for photos with a 75-foot-tall hot air balloon on the hub in front of the Tomorrowland entrance. The 70th anniversary balloon has been touring across the United States with stops in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Denver, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento and San Francisco to promote the park.

The Disneyland 70th hot air balloon is out for a special Cast Member event this morning at the park and will be taking off soon! pic.twitter.com/qCVikAdILN

— Disneyland News Today (@dlnt) July 17, 2025

Disneyland reservations for daily ticket holders were still available on the morning of July 17.

Inspire and Believe Magic Key reservations were sold out for Disneyland on July 17. Disney California Adventure access was still available throughout the day which allowed passholders to park hop over to Disneyland after 11 a.m.

Enchant and Imagine Magic Key passholders were blocked out of both parks for the entire month of July.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland 70th anniversary timeline from 1955 to today

Disneyland is offering deep discounts on tickets during the summer kickoff of its 70th anniversary celebration with prices as low as $100 for a one-day, one-park ticket good through Aug. 14 when prices typically hover between $142 and $206.

The two summer deals include a $400 4-day ticket and a $360 3-day ticket – each good for one park per day.

More than 26 million people in 2024 traveled to Anaheim, according to numbers released this week by Visit Anaheim.

Naturally, many of them were tourists making their way to Disneyland, but the count also includes those visiting the city for business, such as attending a conference at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Visit Anaheim President and CEO Mike Waterman has termed upcoming major events and developments coming to Southern California and Anaheim as a new “golden decade” of opportunity that will increase the number of visitors well beyond where it stands today.

“The future is so bright for tourism, both for visitors and the locals,” Mike Waterman said. “We’ve got the James Beard restaurants, OCVibe and new attractions with DisneylandForward. I’m so bullish for the golden decade.”

Visit Anaheim, which markets the city to travelers and books the convention center, found that about 500,000 more people traveled to Anaheim last year compared to 2023. Visitor spending also hit $6.6 billion in 2024.

The organization wants to shatter the visitation record set this year and bring in 30 million visitors annually by the end of 2028.

That’s when the Olympics will descend upon Southern California, including volleyball at the Honda Center. Paired with developments from OCVibe, which along with adding new housing is planning multiple music venues around the Honda Center, and DisneylandForward well underway, guests will have more reasons to stay in Anaheim and for longer, Waterman said.

“It’s nice to see us making progress toward that goal,” Waterman said. “We still have quite a ways to go. We are excited about the progress and the future.”

Leveraging the most out of the Olympics is the goal of almost every city in Southern California. But Anaheim is unique in OC by having the only event actually in the county (surfing at Lower Trestles south of San Clemente is actually in San Diego County). Spectators will have easy access to the dozens of hotels around the resort area.

One sign of the scramble to maximize the opportunity comes from Disney. The Disneyland Resort’s former president, Ken Potrock, was elevated last year to president of The Walt Disney Company’s major events integration, where he will “focus on maximizing the company’s value during large-scale global events, such as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”

But there are headwinds buffeting the travel industry.

In January, Waterman said there was a considerable drop in visitors that month due to the LA fires and people avoiding Anaheim, who might have been unaware how far the city was from the fires.

Leisure travel to Anaheim, Waterman said, has been softening, but Visit Anaheim is looking to spend $3 million on a marketing campaign to lure travelers. He pointed to a luxury travel campaign that cost a bit less last year as bringing in $100 million in incremental business.

An ongoing drop in international visitors, especially from Canada, the area’s largest international market, is another critical challenge.

There’s been a prolonged spat this year between Canadian and American leadership over trade and assertions from President Donald Trump that Canada should become the 51st state.

The state’s marketing organization, Visit California, said in an April report that “tariffs, policies and pronouncements from the Trump administration have contributed to a growing wave of negative sentiment toward the US among potential international travelers.”

The forecast for visitors coming from Canada saw the largest decline in the Visit California report.

More Canadians were expected to travel to California compared to pre-pandemic numbers, but recent projections have downgraded that to 19% fewer people visiting this year than in 2019, according to the report.

Full recovery of pre-pandemic international visitors isn’t expected to happen until 2028.

To staunch the bleeding, Visit California launched a “California Loves Canada” campaign and even featured Gov. Gavin Newsom giving his pitch to Canadians deciding where to travel this year.

“California is the ultimate playground — over 2,000 miles from Washington and a world away in mindset,” Newsom said in an April video ad, “from our iconic beaches and national parks to world-class wine, food, and outdoor adventure — there’s something here for everyone. Canada, come experience our California Love.”

Last month, the city partnered with the nonprofit Anaheim Community Foundation to launch Anaheim Contigo, which accepts donations from the community to fund emergency assistance grants for families affected by the sweeps.

The $250,000 in new money for Anaheim Contigo, approved by a split 5-2 City Council on Tuesday, July 15, would significantly bolster the fund, which had received $35,000 in donations to date.

“We are called right now to meet this moment with compassion and expediency,” Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said. “Current immigration actions are sowing fear among our residents and intimidating our communities. Unjust enforcement every day is tearing our families apart and it’s tearing at the fabric of our community.”

“It’s a facade of unity with the community if we’re not willing to put a dime toward helping our residents,” Aitken continued.

Only Anaheim residents who are low-income and can demonstrate an immediate need are eligible for the grants. Residents can apply at the city’s family resource centers.

The grants are meant to pay for rent, utilities and household essentials. City officials said some Anaheim residents have avoided going to work out of fear of coming into contact with federal immigration officials at their jobs, stressing the need for help to pay their bills.

The new funding is enough to help 500 people. The city already has more than 100 people who have reached out for assistance.

The City Council directed staff to look for any existing housing dollars or grants that could be allocated to Anaheim Contigo. The backup funding plan would rely on reallocating money from other city departments or cost savings that come up throughout the year.

City spokesperson Mike Lyster told the council about a single mother of two teens who has been unable to work as a delivery driver and a family of five whose father’s work at a nursery was affected by immigration enforcement activity at the facility. These are two examples, Lyster said, of people who have already received the grants; both received $500 to help with rent or utilities.

The Samueli Foundation contributed $10,000 to the Anaheim Contigo fund, and Councilmembers Norma Campos Kurtz and Carlos Leon donated a few thousand each to it as well.

Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava said she hoped the Samueli contribution would spur other large companies in the city to contribute, too.

Councilmembers Natalie Meeks and Ryan Balius voted against supporting Anaheim Contigo with city dollars.

“The council approved a budget three weeks ago, and I believed that there was no excess,” Meeks said. “A reduction of $250,000 will have impacts to our community. And this agenda item asks this body to take this action with no information about what those impacts are.”

City officials on Tuesday said there hasn’t been any federal immigration enforcement since July 9. A car wash on Euclid saw six people detained over two separate enforcement incidents and had to be closed over a busy Fourth of July, Lyster said.

Disneyland has rolled out more than 70 menu items across the Anaheim theme park resort to mark its 70th anniversary on July 17 followed by a celebration that runs through summer 2026.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland rolls out 70 menu items for 70th anniversary

Here are 10 best things I ate on Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration menu.

1) Pineapple Upside Down Sundae

Tropical Hideaway$8.49

Dole Whip Pineapple, caramel drizzle and pineapple upside-down cake topped with a maraschino cherry.

I knew going in the Pineapple Upside Down Sundae was going to be a winner and thank goodness I was right.

This deconstructed upside down cake improved on the classic Dole Whip with a moist and crunchy chunk of cinnamony cake and even more pineapple flavor.

ALSO SEE: 13 Disneyland anniversary foods that offer nods to park’s past

I would eat the Pineapple Upside Down Sundae every time I came to Disneyland if it was on the menu.

The Dole Whip soft serve literally overflowed with diced pineapples that fell off as I ate the sundae in a cup.

The hidden-in-plain-sight surprise was the caramel woven through the swirls and coating the inside of the cup. I wanted it on every bite.

2) Cowboy Fries

Golden Horseshoe$13.99

Fries, nacho cheese, sauteed ground beef, burger sauce and butter pickles.

My first whiff and bite of this big, messy pile of delicious goodness immediately reminded me of In-N-Out Animal Fries.

The tastes were great throughout and got better with every single bite.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland’s biggest decade ever is about to end — and the next could be even bigger

This was a whole lot of food. I could have never eaten the whole thing by myself — even if I wanted to. It’s probably too much food for two people. The Cowboy Fries could have easily feed three or four and were definitely meant to share.

They would make a great mid-course appetizer if you planned to graze around the park sampling 70th anniversary dishes like a food festival.

The Disneyland chefs really nailed it with the Cowboy Fries, which were everything I was hoping for.

3) Peach Cobbler Funnel Cake Fries

Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree$9.99

Cinnamon sugar, peach topping, vanilla ice cream and streusel.

Disney does dessert better than anyone and this peach cobbler was the latest perfect example.

The cobbler is the star of the show with this pile of funnel cake fries. I kept wanting more peaches and more sauce.

I found the dense and thick cinnamon-dusted fries much heavier than I expected.

I always try to pace myself when I’m eating 10 foods in a single visit to the park. But I could not stop eating this cobbler.

4) Fried Tamale Walking Taco

Rancho del Zocalo$13.99

Fried beef tamale with chili, corn chips and diced onions with cilantro, shredded cheese and sour cream.

It’s ironic that “walking” was in the name of this dish because it was served on a plate with silverware that you have to sit down to eat.

The “walking taco” part of the name refers to the single serving Fritos bags filled with taco toppings served at baseball games, county fairs and birthday parties.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland 70th anniversary timeline from 1955 to today

Disneyland chefs basically dumped a “walking taco” on top of a chili tamale to add a twist to an otherwise traditional Mexican dish.

Frying the tamale dried out the ends a bit, but I found the middle tender and delicious.

Overall, the Fried Tamale Walking Taco was a nice tribute to Casa de Fritos — the former restaurant that once occupied Rancho del Zocalo.

5) Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl

Refreshment Corner$13.49

Mac and cheese topped with pineapple-BBQ pulled pork in a sourdough bread bowl.

Disneyland billed the Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl as a new item — even though it struck me as something that should have been in the park by now.

That was a brilliant move on the part of the Disneyland culinary team — taking three familiar standbys and putting a new spin on them.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland Opera House opening 4 exhibits for 70th anniversary

The Kraft-style mac and cheese was pretty basic — but that was all it really needed to hold up to the sweet, savory and juicy pulled pork.

It was a lot of food that could easily be shared — especially with that big Boudin Bakery bread bowl.

The bread bowl was the novelty here. While it’s delicious, I don’t usually want to eat a whole loaf of sourdough bread while I’m at Disneyland.

6) 70th Stuff

Red Rose Taverne$7.29

Shortbread cookie with a cookies and cream cake, fresh raspberry and raspberry jam surrounded with white chocolate mousse and topped with colored sprinkles.

The strategy here was simple: Take a winner and change the flavor profile ever so slightly.

The Grey Stuff from “Beauty and the Beast” is one of the most successful desserts Disneyland pastry chefs have ever created.

So why not build on that success with the 70th Stuff — which swapped out chocolate mousse for white chocolate mousse.

The result: A much whiter shade of grey and pretty much the same level of joy and satisfaction.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland has a whole lotta ‘Happy’ going on during 70th birthday bash

I’m a sucker for frosting. I always ask for the corner piece of cake and then just eat the frosting. And I go back and scrape the leftover frosting off the serving tray when all the cake is gone.

That also makes me a sucker for the “Stuff” — no matter what flavor mousse is on top.

I’m still always surprised by the cake and jam inside the pile of frosting, even though I know it’s coming. I love getting all the different layers in a single bite.

In a word, the 70th Stuff was delicious. Don’t believe me? Just ask the dishes.

7) Strawberry Shortcake Macaron

Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe$8.29

Vanilla bean buttercream, strawberry jam and fresh strawberry with strawberry whipped topping and strawberry crunch.

This was the latest Instagram-ready treat that the Disneyland chefs always whip up for every special event — and fortunately it tasted even better than it looked.

The twist here was a pie-shaped French meringue-based cookie that sat atop a slice of strawberry shortcake.

Make sure the camera eats first because the whole thing started falling apart after the first forkful.

The crunchy macaron top crumbled with each bite and slowly revealed the big strawberry slices and strawberry jam hiding inside.

8) Grilled Tahitian Ribs

Bengal Barbecue$19.49

Served with white rice and pineapple slaw.

I had high hopes for the Grilled Tahitian Ribs and they delivered.

Don’t think too hard about the “Tahitian” part of the name — which is a nod to the Tahitian Terrace that served a menu of South Sea Island foods and offered Polynesian entertainment from 1962 to 1993 in Adventureland.

These were nothing more than the Bengal Barbecue ribs with teriyaki sauce. They were sweet, delicious and just what I’d expect from the Bengal Barbecue.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland’s new ‘World of Color’ tugs at your emotional heartstrings

I wanted the meat to be more tender, but it wasn’t super tough either.

You can pick the teriyaki ribs up in your hands if you don’t mind sticky fingers. Trying to cut meat with a plastic fork was pretty ridiculous.

The lackluster cole slaw didn’t do it for me, but the rice was perfect for soaking up the extra sauce and served as a good complement to the ribs.

The Grilled Tahitian Ribs will be perfect for Bengal Barbecue fans looking for a new flavor profile at their favorite Adventureland eatery.

9) Dancing Shimmering Lights

Troubadour Tavern$7.99

Sweet berry lemonade with blackberry topper and colorful sanding sugar.

My main concern with any Disneyland drink is that it’s going to be too sweet. Fortunately, that was not the case with the Dancing Shimmering Lights.

Lemonade is my go-to drink and this fresh take added a fun twist on the classic.

The creamy blackberry topper stayed with the drink all the way to the last sip. That creaminess helped break down the sweetness.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland characters hit the road for 70 Happiest Hours in Anaheim

This was like drinking a melted Slurpee topped with a melted soft serve ice cream on top.

It did all the things I want lemonade to do. It was cool, refreshing and just special enough to warrant the upcharge.

10) Chicken Pot Pie Baked Potato

Troubadour Tavern$11.99

Chicken pot pie filling with pie crust crumble.

This mash-up of classic baked potato with a deconstructed chicken pot pie took a bit of effort to get all the flavors together into one bite.

It felt satisfying whenever I did and left me hunting for that familiar chicken pot pie flavor whenever I didn’t.

I’m not a peas and carrots guy, but I love them hidden in the context of a stew or pot pie.

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My recommendation: Cut up the baked potato and mix up the pot pie ingredients so the flavors are more evenly distributed. Otherwise you’ll be getting one ingredient at a time with each bite of potato.

Also, ask for extra gravy so that it lasts all the way to the final bite.

This was a big, hearty dish that was by no means a sample size. You can easily make a meal out of this. It was perfect for sharing.

“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut on Thursday, July 17 — the 70th anniversary of Disneyland’s grand opening in 1955.

The “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” show closed in April and is not expected to return until fall 2026 after the yearlong run of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.

Walt Disney Imagineering redesigned the Main Street Opera House with a turntable stage to allow “Walt Disney: A Magical Life” and “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” to play in rotation.

“Getting to eventually have that in rotation and have Lincoln and Walt share the stage was really a big win for us,” Imagineering Portfolio Executive Creative Producer Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz said.

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“Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” will get a new scenic set as part of the upgrades to the Main Street Opera House.

“There’s a big sigh of relief from the fan community that Mr. Lincoln got some love too,” Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline said.

Shaver-Moskowitz and Cline spoke during a media preview of “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” on Monday, July 14 in the Main Street Opera House.

Disneyland visitors will be able to choose between the two shows or stay to watch both when “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” eventually returns in fall 2026.

Keeping “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” in the Main Street Opera House was important to Imagineering.

“Being able to keep Lincoln in his home was really great,” Shaver-Moskowitz said during the media preview. “It’s so important to Disneyland and the DNA of Disneyland.”

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Disneyland filed building permits in 2024 valued at $5 million with the city of Anaheim that called for an existing platform to be replaced with a new turntable on the landmark Audio-Animatronic attraction in the Main Street Opera House, according to city records.

The former platform raised and lowered the Lincoln animatronic so the theater could be used for traditional stage presentations.

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Walt Disney once planned to bring lifelike versions of Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison and John Adams to Disneyland.

Shortly after the park’s opening in 1955, Disneyland announced plans to build Liberty Street and Edison Square just off of Main Street U.S.A.

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Liberty Street would have featured Jefferson, Franklin and Adams drafting the Declaration of Independence. Edison Square would have showcased the American inventor’s work with electricity.

While Liberty Street and Edison Square never happened in Anaheim, Imagineering’s initial creative work eventually morphed into the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln exhibit that debuted at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair and eventually returned to Disneyland.

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Imagineering eventually built Liberty Street — which became Liberty Square when the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 complete with a Hall of Presidents.